A Brisbane woman who used forged TAFE qualifications to secure a childcare director’s job before stealing children’s fees has been jailed.

December 1, 2019

A dodgy Queensland childcare worker forged her qualifications to land a director’s job, then pocketed parents’ cash when they paid their children’s fees.

Heather Clare Foster, 40, fraud came to light after it was discovered she used a fake TAFE diploma to win a senior role at the Nazareth Lutheran Early Learning Centre in Woolloongabba.

She pleaded guilty on Wednesday in the Brisbane District Court to five fraud and dishonesty offences between 2013 and 2017.

“People everyday obtain qualifications legitimately and apply for jobs and are employed on trust and this hits at the heart of of the integrity of the education and employment system,” prosecutor Steve Kissick said.

The court heard Foster also stole about $5400 when parents paid the centre’s fees in cash before being sacked in November 2013.

Three days later she forged a second TAFE certificate to secure jobs as a child care trainer at the Shafston International College in Kangaroo Point and Training for Me in Camp Hill, Mr Kissick said.

All up Foster was paid about $80,000 before police charged her in 2017.

“In none of the circumstances was she qualified, no value for money was obtained and there was a significant risk of deregistration (for the childcare centre),” Mr Kissick said.

Defence lawyer Jason Buckland told the court Foster started her childcare career as a cook at the collapsed ABC Learning before being promoted to the position of room attendant.

He said she had no formal qualifications and had struggled to find employment when the company went into receivership in 2008 and she lost her job.

Foster was sentenced to three-and-a-half years’ prison to be suspended after 14 months.